Testing-case for pneumatic tubes.



B. S. BOWERS. TESTING CASE FOR PNEUMATIC TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 3o. m4.

utented Feb. 1, 1916.

@N94/kwam@ o UNITED STATES A'PAEN mon.

BENJAMIN S. BOWERS, OF LAPRAIRIE, MINNESOTA, SSIGNOR TO JACOB CLO'SZ; OF

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA.

TESTING-CASE FOR PNEUMATIC TUBES.

To all whom t may 'concern'.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN S. Bow- ERs, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Laprairie, in the county of Itasca and State of Minnesota, have linvented new Aand tures and particularly those which are classi-l fied as slow leaks.

Under the ordinary methodof ascertaining the locationof a very small leak or puncture in the inner tube of a pneumatic tire, it is customary to inflate said lnner tube after it has been removed from the outer case. If

' said inner tube is only inflated to the point of safety, in many cases the puncture or -leaklwill not be in evidence andwhen the pressure is increased'by pumping a greater volume of air into said tube, the airseeks the weakestvpoint in the wall of the tube re- .A ,-sulting in a blow out or the bursting of the 30 i Under 4the invention f hereinafter described, the inner tube may be subjected to the full pressure allotted to it While contained in the outer case .of the pneumatic tire and therefore when said tube has been inflated to such an extent and submerged in liquid such as Water, the escape of air under such highpressure `through the 'punci 'turewill enable -the repairman. to .ascertain the exact location of said puncture.- n

. With the above and otherobjects 1n view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts,

as herein described, illustrated and claimed.` In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 isa. side elevation of a testing case for penumatic tubesembodying the present invention. 'Fig'. 2 is a diametrical section through the same.. Fig. 3 is'an enlarged cross sec- .tion through the testingfcase, also showing the'ginner'tube therein in cross section. i

In. carrying out the present invention, I provide an annular casing designated generally at A, said casing, inthe preferred embodiment of this invention, comprising .an

Specification of Letters Patent. i

eneral tubular Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed October 30, 1914. Serial N o. 869,440."

outer section a corresponding generally in its shape-to the outer casing of a pneumatic tire, and an inner section b corresponding in shape in cross section to the ordinary/'tire holding rlm such as is commonly used in vvehicle wheel structures of the'present day for holding the'outer case and inner tube of a pneumatictire. The outer section a is provided alongits marginal edges with beads which are preferably reinforced by longitudinal Wires c and the inner section b of the "casing is provided with hook-shaped.

flanges (Z which may. also be reinforced with wires eso that when the two sections of the casing are combined, the beads and flanges will interlock and prevent separation between thelsections. of the casing when the inner tube contained therein is fully inflated.

Both the outer andinner sections ai and o ofthe casing A are `composed of meshed fabric, wire strands of any suitable material and gage to withstand the pressure being employed in the make-up of the sections and the meshes or Spaces between the wires or strands being of proper size to restrain the inflated tube and prevent the same from giving Way or bursting under the internal pressure. j

An inner tube after being removed from the outer casing of a pneumatic tire is-placed ,in the outer section a of the casing and then 4 fully inclosed by combining the inner section Z2 of the casing with said outer section a. The valve stem ofthe tube may be 4passed through an openingV e in the inner section of the 'testing case. The ltube is then infiated in the ordinary way until a pressure is obtained equal to the normal working pressure of said inner tube. 'The testing case with its contained inflated tube is then submerged in water o r its equivalent whereupon the air escaping fromA the puncture or leak in said tube w11l. rise in the form of bubbles to the surface of the water showing definitely the exact location of the leak without endangering the wall of the inner tube at any point. Considerable ytime andexpense is thus saved vand the life of the inner tube correspondingly increased.

It will, of course, be understood that the shape of the inner or rim section of the testing case is susceptible of'considerable change as well as the means'v for locking the two sections of the case together as various lock' ing expedients may be resorted to without departing from the' principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

It should be understood that the woven fabric, of which the case may be composed,

is preferably a wire fabric, although other bubbles so that the leak may be'located.

Vhat I claim is tube of separableparts whereby a tire tube may Vbeinserted and retained therein, said restraining tube having at least a part of its wall foraminous and its wall being adapted to contact, surround and reinforce the tire tube against bursting throughout the length` 'of the restraining tube.

2. A testing case for pneumatic tubes consisting cfa body, a part of which body at least is perforated, said body being designed tc surround, contain and hold an entire inner tube against bursting when inflated and expose said tube through the perforations.-

3. A testing case for pneumatic tubes con- 1. A testing device including a restrainingsisting of a body, a part of which at least is perforated, said body being designed to surround, contain and holdv an entire inner tube wheninflated and expose said tube through the perforations, said p'erforations being of sufliciently restricted area to restrain said tube from blowing out through said perforations. y

4. A tube testing device comprising a foraminous casing which is adapted to mclos'e the tube to be tested while the same is being inflated and which comprises two annular channel-shaped sections adapted to be connected with their concave sides facing each other. y

5. A tube testing device comprising a foraminous casing which is adapted to inclose the tube to be tested while the sameis being inflated and which comprisesl two annular channel-shaped sections adapted to be connected with their concave sides facing each other, and means forl detachably connecting said sections. p

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN S. BOWEB S.

Witnesses:

i C. E. AIKEN,

LYMAN SEAMAN. 

